Pullman district, Uptown Theater on endangered landmark list

April 20, 2010

For more than a century, the stately brick row houses that George Pullman built for his factory workers have peaked over Chicago's South Side -- a reminder of the community's critical role in the American labor movement.

But, preservation activists worry that a sizeable swath of the Pullman Historic District may soon disappear in the face of an increasing number of foreclosures and possible demolitions.

"There is no doubt that this neighborhood has had economic struggles in the last 20 years, but the economy has exacerbated it to the point of crisis," said Lisa DiChiera, director of advocacy for Landmarks Illinois, which has placed the neighborhood's north side on its annual list of the state's most endangered historic places.

The list, released Tuesday, also includes Chicago's iconic and deteriorating Uptown Theater, the old Prentice Women's Hospital, and the elaborate St. Laurence Complex.

The Uptown Theater lobby (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)

Now in its 16th year, the Landmarks Illinois list is designed to educate the public and spur action, the group says.

"We are the city of great architecture," DiChiera said. "(But) buildings require dedicated owners that have the financial means to maintain them."

In the Pullman Historic District, about 22 homes built in the 1880s are already in foreclosure in a four-block area that stretches along the 10400 and 10500 blocks of South Corliss and Maryland avenues, according to Landmarks Illinois. Lots once marked by manicured lawns and ornate Victorian architecture now display broken windows, sagging porches and crumbling facades, DiChiera said.

"It is suffering like many neighborhoods in the city," DiChiera said. "But, you cannot just say, 'Go do mass demolition of these properties,' because they are supposed to be protected."

Prentice Women'sHospital in 2003 (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)

Although many community groups have worked to preserve the district since it was awarded national landmark status in the early 1970s, the focus has largely been on the community's south side.

"(The north side) is clearly an area that needs some attention and needs reinvestment," said David Doig, president of Park Bank Initiatives, which has been working with the city to arrange a grant program for the district's property owners for maintenance and repairs.

A bill that would give a state income tax credit to owners who are fixing up historic properties is pending in the state legislature.

"It is a really popular idea, but it is just getting this through the legislature ... it does have budget implications," said Landmarks Illinois President Jim Peters. "But, a lot of people feel that it is a win-win because you don't get the credit until you have done the work."

Other items that made this year's list include a Shingle-style mansion in downstate Greenville; two buildings at the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul; an intact 19th century farm in Montgomery County; the art deco Massac Theater in Metropolis; an 1870s-era mansion in Moline; and the Illinois Main Street Program, a downtown main street revitalization program recently reduced by state budget cuts.